Adjustable tie plate



n 21 1927. e w. H. HUFF ADJUS TABLE TI E PLATE Filed Dec. '21. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 -Iiffliie 21 w. H. HUFF ADJUSTABLE TIE PLATE Filed Dec. 21. 1926 2 Sheets-sheaf 2 gme'ntot of Figure 1.

Patented June 21, 1927.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. HUFF, or HAMLE'I, NORTH CAROLINA.

ADJUSTABLE TIE PLATE.

Application filed December 21, 1926. S'eriaINo. 156,172.

The present invention is directed to improvements in adjustable tie plates for rails.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character con-- structed and arranged in such manner that when the rails shift and lose their standard gage the plate can be adjusted to maintain the rails in proper gage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character includi'i'ig a rail clamping plate capable of being adjusted upon the tie plate in order to main Figure 3 is a sectional View on line 3-3 of Figure 1. V r

Figure 4 is a sectionalview on line 1-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5' is a perspective View of'the clamping plate. I I

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the tie plate.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary end view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates'a tie plate, rectangular in shape, and has formed upon itslongitudinal edges V -shaped grooves 2, the rear ends of said grooves stopping short of the outer cndof the plate to provide shoulders 3, the purpose of which will be explained later. vided with rectangular openings 4: and 5 and an adjacent longitudinal slot 6, there being a similar slot 7 formed inthe said plate and disposed diagonally with respect to the slot 6. It will be observed that theupper edges of the outer walls of the grooves 2 are below the plane of the plate 1, the purpose of which will appear later.

Associated with the plate 1 is a clamping plate 8, said plate having arms 9 projected in parallel relation therefrom, said arms being V-shaped in cross section to correspond to the shape of the grooves 2, the upper surfaces thereof being below the plane of the drawings. The under'surfacr-i of'the plate Iis provided with transverse ribs 17 adapted to The plate 1 is proplate 8 and so formed that the outer ends constitute stops lOwhich abut the shoulders 3 when the plate 8 is in its normal, or initial position upon the plate 1. In this manner the plate 8 is held against endwise movement in one direction. vidcd with rectangular spike receiving openmgs 11 and 12, arranged in groups, one group comprising two openings, while the Theplate 8 is proother group comprises three openings,-th ere being a notch 13 formed in the inner edge of the plate 8, as clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The.inner ends of the arms 9 are formed with cleats 14' designed to engage the inner edge of the base 15 of the rail 16,* as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the bite into the tie to prevent creepingthereof. I In order that the plate 1 may be an chored to the tie an opening 18. is formed adjacent the inner end thereof for thereception of a spike. In this manner the plate 1' may be maintained in its proper position upon the tie to prevent dislodgment thereof when the rails are bent set. I

Normally .the plate 8 is in the position shown in full lines in Figure 1 and'at which time the notch 13 thereof coincides with the outer end of the slot .6 for the reception of a rail spike, there being also a spike engaged in the'slot 7. Since the cleats 14 engage the inner edge of the rail base the rail will be maintained firmly in place upon the. tie plate. 7 7 The opening 4' of the plate 1 will be'in registration with the innermost opening 12 {Hi I of the plate 8, andif desired a spike may v be then driven in these openings for engaging the" tie.

V 'Vhen the rails shift and lose their gage it isonly necessary to remove the spikes and lift the rails from the plate 1, whereupon the plate .8 may be slid'inwardly until the I innermost opening 11 thereof fully registers with the opening 5 of the plate 1, whereupon the rail is replaced and spikes driven in the registering openings, as well as in the notch 13 and slot 6 and in the slot 7 and at which time the plate 8 and its arms 9 assume the position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings. If further adjustment is required the plate 8 maybe moved further inwardly untilthe central I opening 12 registers with the opening 4 and if still further adjustment is desired the plate 8 may be moved inwardly until the V outermost opening 12 registers with the 8., 1 Owing to the ,fact that the outer walls of the groovesQ are below the plane of the plate 1 they will be prevented from being 9 marred when rails are dropped thereon when laying tracks, and in this manner any pos sibility of distorting the grooves and, pre venting free sliding of the arms therein is positively prevented.

When the rails are resting upon the plates 1 they will also engage'upon the arms 9, thus maintaining the same firmly injthe respective grooves 2.

In Figure 7 the clamping plate 8 is shown provided with a brace arm 19 designed to have its upper end engaged with the ball of the rails, this construction being particularly well adapted for use in connection with switch points.

Obviously it is necessaryto plug the holes l in the tie after the spikes have been with drawn to give purchase for the succeeding lspikes This can be readily accomplished upon removing the clamping plate and driving wooden fillers in the vacated spike holes.

:rlavi ig thus 7 described the I invention, I claim: V i i f 1. The combinationwitli a tie plate, of a clamping plate slidably mounted thereon,

and having arms slidably interlocked with the tie plate and provided with, cleats at their innerends which coac't with the inner edge of the plate to confine the base of the rail. i

2. The combination with a tie plate having grooves therein adjacent its marginal edges with the outer walls of the grooves below the plane of the plate, of a clamping plate having arms thereon for slidable engagement in the grooves, and having railengaging cleats at their inner ends, and.

means for locking the clamping plate in adjusted positions upon the tie plate.

3. "The combination with a tieplate having grooves therein, shoulders atone of their ends, a clamping platehaving arms carried thereby for slidably engaging the grooves,

the outer ends of the arms constituting stops for engagement with the shoulders to limit the'sliding movement of the arms, and cleats at the inner ends of the arms to coact with the inner edge of the plate to confine the base of the rail.

4. The combination with a tie plate having openings therein, of a clamping plate slidably adjustable upon the tie plate and having groups of openings therein for se lected registration with the openings of the tie plate for the reception ofsecuring devices. 1

a 5. The combination ivith a tie plate having openings and a slot therein, of a clamping plate having groups of openingstherein for selected registration with the respective openings of the tieplate, said clamping plate having a notch in one edge for registration k with said slot, and securing devices engage able in the registering openings and notch and slot for securing the clamping plate in' V adjusted positionsupon the tie plate, r

6. The combination with, a tie plate having longitudinal grooves, of a clamping plate having arms'slidably adjustable in the grooves, and cleats upon the ends of the arms i'or'engaging one edge of the rail base ,when the clamping plate is engaged witlrthe other edge thereof. i a

i 7. The combination with a 'tie plate having longitudinal grooves formed in the upper face thereof, a clamping plate having arms carried thereby for slidablerengagement in i the grooves, the outer walls of the grooves being below the plane of the uppersurface of the tie plate, e 8. The combination with a tie plate having spike receiving openings therein, of a clamp- 1 ing plate adjustably mounted on the. tie

plate and having openings therein arranged in groups, the openings of the groups being adapted tobe successively brought into registration with the respective openings in the tieplate when the clamping plate is adjusted.

WILLIAM HQHUFF; [1

In testimony whereof Iailixmy signature. 

